The Doll Maker (A Weirdville Book)

By Majanka Verstraete

Derek’s little sister wants one of those creepy-looking dolls, staring at him from the strange new doll shop in town, and what his sister wants, she gets. Now they’re stuck with a doll that looks so human, it gives Derek the creeps.

When Derek tells his friends, Martin and Jamie, about the new shop with creepy human-like dolls, they want to see for themselves. That has “bad idea” written all over it, but he takes his friends there anyway.

They meet the mysterious doll maker, who reminds Derek of Dr. Frankenstein, and who brainwashes Martin into buying one of those scary dolls. Derek and Jamie push and pull Martin out of the shop, but something isn’t right with their friend. He’s shivering all over, and he has no memory of what happened in the shop.

Martin’s condition worsens every day, and Derek’s sister grows more and more obsessed with her new doll. Derek and Jamie have to find out what’s going on, and fast, because....

...the doll maker seems linked to a bunch of mysterious disappearances, and the last thing Derek wants is his sister, or his friend, being next on the doll maker’s list.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Majanka Verstraete
• Release date: Sep 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005974985

Majanka Verstraete

Majanka Verstraete begged her Mom to teach her how to read while she was still in kindergarten. By the time she finished fifth grade, she had read through the entire children’s section of her hometown library. She wrote her first story when she was seven years old, and hasn’t stopped writing since. With an imagination that never sleeps, and hundreds of possible book characters screaming for her attention, writing is more than a passion for her. She writes about all things supernatural for children of all ages. She’s tried to write contemporary novels before, but something paranormal always manages to crawl in. Majanka is currently studying for her Master of Laws degree, and hopes one day to be able to combine her passions for law and writing. When she’s not writing, reading or studying, she likes watching “The Vampire Diaries” and “Game of Thrones,” spending time with her friends, or playing “World of Warcraft.”

Book preview

The Doll Maker

(A Weirdville Book)

Lower Grade Chapter Book

Majanka Verstraete

www.WhimsicalPress.com

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THE DOLL MAKER

(A Weirdville Book)

Copyright © 2021 Majanka Verstraete

Originally published in 2013

Art Copyright © 2013 Noelle Giffin

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Find out more about the author and upcoming books online at www.majankaverstraete.com or @iheartreads.

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

Other Books by

Majanka Verstraete

Valentina’s Spooky Adventures

Valentina and the Haunted Mansion

Valentina and the Whackadoodle Witch

Valentina and the Masked Mummy

Weirdville

The Doll Maker

House of Horrors

Fright Train

Drowning in Fear

The Clumsy Magician

Grave Error

Sally Sleuth

Sally Sleuth and the Missing Mice

For a complete, up-to-date list of her other books, visit her website:

www.MajankaVerstraete.com

Dedication

For all those kids out there who love telling scary stories to their friends, and reading scary books in bed at night, wondering if they should leave the lights on or not after reading.

Hope you enjoy this story as well!

Chapter One

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I want the doll! Annie cried, seconds before she launched toward the window of the doll shop.

Derek stared at the doll shop in surprise. The tiny store stood in the middle of the block, almost hidden between two larger buildings. It had a small show window and a glass door with a sign indicating the shop was open. Above the show window hung a board saying The Doll Maker. A thin, long crack meandered from top to bottom on the glass door and the board hung a little askew, like the doll shop had been there for a while, but Derek had never seen it before, and he passed by on this street nearly every day.

Annie put her hands on the glass, gaping at one of the dolls. Please, Mommy! Please!

My little sister is insane, Derek thought as he shook his head. Annie cried whenever she didn’t get what she wanted, and she didn’t like any of the things he did. Now she’s completely lost it.

The doll, resembling a young toddler of maybe three years old, with tiny eyebrows, a turned-up nose and a mouth with miniscule teeth, made Derek’s hair stand on end. Its blue, vacant eyes gazed straight at him, as if watching for his reaction.

Why would Annie want a creepy doll like that?

He moved aside as his mom rushed forward to grab Annie’s hand and pull her away from the window. It was impossible, but the doll’s eyes followed his every move. Its pink skin and lifelike features made it look like a real child.

Annie, Mom said, your birthday was two weeks ago. You can’t get a present every time we go shopping. She held both Annie’s hands in hers and smiled at her. Let’s get you an ice cream instead.

I don’t want an ice cream, his little sister said. I want the doll. She stomped her feet on the ground. When she didn’t get her way, she was like a raving thunderstorm, and everyone paid for it in the end.

Why would you want such an ugly doll? Derek asked.

Ugly? Annie put her small hands